20 Places In India You Can Cover On A Shoe String Budget

1. Alleppey

Alleppey, the Venice of the East, is famous for the verdant countryside, lagoons, and the waterways. It is the best place to cruise lazily around in the ever present houseboats and sample the delicious coconut-laced seafood.

Ideal duration of stay: 2 Nights/3 Days
What it will cost you:
Stay: INR 250 – INR 700 per night
Food: INR 200 per meal.
Houseboats: Start at INR 6000 per day for 1 BHK and includes three meals, so split it up with friends if you can.

2. Goa

For those seeking some budget trips in India, Goa is the hot favorite of all; backpackers are no exception. Get lost on its beaches, Portuguese architecture, forts, local markets and the palm tree lined quaint villages. You can even hire a motorbike and explore on your own! There are plenty of pubs to chill out too.

Ideal duration: 2 Nights/3 Days
What it will cost you:
Train travel Mumbai to Margao and back: INR 450
Stay: Decent accommodation and beach huts starts at INR 500/night
Food: Shacks on the beach are the best, a good seafood meal for as low as INR 150
Bike rentals: Start at INR 250/day and go upto INR 500

3. Pondicherry

Ideal duration: 2 Nights/3 Days
What it will cost you:
Bus travel from Chennai to Pondicherry and back: INR 500, if you prefer traveling unreserved in a train, the fare is as low as INR 45 one way.
Stay: Comfortable cottage stay at INR 300 or budget hotels at INR 500
Food: Try out some Indianized French cuisine starting at INR 200-300 for two

Why shell out thousands when you can get a French experience through some cheap trips in India? With a trip to Pondicherry, you can get the French flair right here in India. Walk the cobblestoned streets during the day and put up your feet at the innumerable cafes on the beach in the evenings. And yes, don’t forget to try out the French food around here.

4. Gokarna

Ideal duration: 2 Nights/3 Days
What it will cost you:
Bangalore to Gokarna and back by bus: INR 800
Stay: Comfy homestays start at INR 200 in Gokarna
Food: Lots of eating options near the beach at INR 200 for two per meal
Banana boat ride: INR 300 per person

Looking for some peace and tranquility in one of the cheap holiday destinations in India? Then, the Om Beach in Gokarna near Mangalore is one of the perfect 3 days trip places. You could try hiring some boats with the local fishermen to take you around the beaches in Gokarna. And if you start getting restless, there are a bunch of water activities you could go for. And what’s more? The Gokarna beaches are still budget travel destinations in India!

5. Rishikesh

The thrilling white-water-rafting, the splendid beach camps, and the exhilarating treks beckon the adventurer in you. A trip to Rishikesh tops the charts among the adventurous budget holiday destinations in India. You could also visit the breathtaking Valley of Flowers from here. Mind you, it’s a completely vegetarian and alcohol-free destination, but totally worth it!

Chugging up to Darjeeling from New Jalpaiguri or Siliguri is a once in a lifetime experience. And what makes it better is that it is still one of the best budget trips in India. Once up in the hills, just take in the salubrious air, sip the Darjeeling tea, rise early and gaze at the sunrise at Tiger hills and get ready to be mesmerized by the magnificent Kanchenjunga.

Ideal duration: 2 Nights/3 Days
What it will cost you:
Travel from Kolkata to Siliguri or New Jalpaiguri by bus and back: INR 490
Toy train up to Darjeeling from NJP: INR 250
Jeep ride from NJP to Darjeeling: INR 150/person
Stay: INR 800/night [twin-sharing basis]
Food: INR 300 for two

7. Dharamsala And McLeodganj

A colorful hill station, Dharamsala is a mini-Tibet. The dual cities of Dharamsala and McLeodganj are lined with numerous monasteries and temples to visit and the views of the hills and valleys are nothing short of magical. For those who love treks, be sure to try Triund trek and camp. So, if you are looking for some adventurous cheap trips in India, you sure can count on Dharamsala and McLeodganj for they are some of the best places for 3 days trip.

Sikkim is one of the loveliest and cheapest holiday destination in India. Nothing beats its wonderful climate, scenic view of the Himalayas, picturesque treks, strong Tibetan Buddhist culture and yummy local food. And all this comes well in your budget.

Ideal duration: 2 Nights/3 Days
What it will cost you:
Kolkata to Siliguri (Train): INR 185 one side
Siliguri to Gangtok (Bus): INR 165 one side
Stay: Budget hotels are available at INR 600 up, but there are dorms too for INR 120 or single rooms for INR 250
Food: Plenty of cheap places around, momos being the specialty here: INR 100 up per meal

9. Kanyakumari

Being the tip of Indian mainland itself makes Kanyakumari enticing. The confluence of the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean — behold it, to believe it! A must-see is the Vivekanand Rock Memorial and the breathtaking sunrise and sunset views here

This is one fantastic treat for the history lovers and one of the most value for money and cheap holiday destinations in India. Relive the Vijayanagar history just wandering about Hampi or maybe perch on the omnipresent huge boulders to survey the land around you. You could even catch the vibrant Hampi Utsav if you happen to visit in the first week of November.

Undoubtedly, one of the top hilly budget tourist places in India, Nainital is known for its main attraction – the Naini Lake & the beautiful hills that surround it. The rope-way to Snow view to get a dekko at the mighty Himalayas is a must-do here.

It can’t get better than this for a quick getaway from Mumbai. Plenty of hikes, numerous waterfalls in the monsoons and the delicious chocolate fudge and chikki promises a memorable experience. There are exciting treks to try to a number of forts around Lonavala. Yes, it does not come for free. But it is still one of the best budget travel destinations in India, especially if you hail from Mumbai.

Ideal duration: 2 Nights/3 Days
What it will cost you:
Train from Mumbai to Lonavla: INR 122 (roundtrip)
Buses from Mumbai to Lonavla: INR 250 one way
Stay: There are ashrams and dharmashalas @INR 400/night and budget hotels @INR 600 up
Food: Plenty of small restaurants and road side cafes; a good meal will come for approx. INR 200

13. Munnar

Travel via Cochin, apart from the spectacular scenic drive, you could even enjoy a visit to the Elephant training Centre on the way. The tea gardens of Munnar are its hallmark, but one can even try the Eravikulam National Park or even some early morning treks to Rajmala hills.

City of Lakes or the White City, call it what you may, Udaipur is without a doubt one of the most exotic cities in India. Once you are done gazing at the magnificent palaces and lakes, take a peek at some rare automobiles at the Vintage car museum. Do sample the delicious dal, bati, churma and jalebi along the way.

A cultural hotspot, Banaras or Varanasi, is situated on the banks of River Ganges. The Ganga ghats are sites to experience the cultural flavor of India. So get on that boat ride and take in the most incredible sights from laundry to religious rituals. Don’t miss out on the Banarasi thandai and Banarasi paan!

Ideal duration: 2 Nights/3 Days
What will it cost you:
Delhi to Varanasi and back (train): INR 652
Stay: INR 200/night
Food: Street food starts at INR 30 for two, Local food at INR 150 for two
Boat ride on the Ganges: INR 250/hour

16. Meghalaya

This “Abode of the Clouds” is one of the most unusual states in the country. You will see “natural” living bridges made from roots of ancient trees, get pleasantly drenched in world’s wettest place, Cherrapunjee, or even get up at 4 in the morning for some sumptuous local breakfast.

A trip to Ooty, one of the best hill stations in South India, is amongst the best budget trips in India that you could ask for. The senses exult here in the midst of the exotic botanical gardens, Rose garden, verdant hills, historical buildings, tea plantations and of course, homemade chocolates.

Ideal duration: 2 Nights/3 Days
What will it cost you:
Chennai to Ooty and back (bus) – INR 1400
Stay: Starts at INR 300
Food: Starts at as low as INR 50 for two

18. Shimla

The capital of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla is a lovely spot if you are looking for cheap holiday destinations in India. The hill station not only has many sightseeing attractions, but also mesmerizes with its scenic charm. Even if you will walk into a decent restaurant the price range would be inexpensive. There also are various budget hotels and resorts in Shimla that will make your budget escape unforgettable.

If you’re thinking of a snow-laden escape, meandering past valleys sprinkled in white, then Shimla makes for dreamy winter road trips in India!

Known across the world for its erotic art sculpture outside the historic temples, Khajuraho happens to be an ideal choice if you want to tour top low budget tourist places in India. This destination is made budget-friendly primarily through hostels like Zostel and many budget stays.

Jaipur, the Pink City is the capital of Rajasthan. The City is part of the famous Golden Triangle Tour of India (Including Delhi and Agra). This tour is loved majorly by foreign travelers visiting India to catch a glimpse of its incredible heritage. Hence, with a booming tourism scenario comes a myriad of choices for the budget travelers as well. Right from the street food to quirky hostel stays, this has to be in your list of short trips in India on budget.